PM and Treasurer visit the Coast

Treasurer Wayne Swan has brushed aside the results of the latest opinion polls which reveal a drop in the government’s support, saying his focus is on “doing the right thing by the country”.

The Morgan Poll, conducted on July 19 and 20, found Labor would still romp home if an election was held today but its support had fallen 5% to 55% on a two party-preferred basis.

The decline has been attributed to fears about the impact of proposed measures to combat climate change, which are expected to drive up the price of power and the cost of living.

The Treasurer, with Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, will visit the Sunshine Coast today for the launch of a new fibre-optic network and to open a new health and sports facility at the University of the Sunshine Coast.

They will also attend a ceremony unveiling of a commemorative wall for the Nambour RSL at 11am.

Both were students at Nambour High School and grew up on the Sunshine Coast.

Mr Swan said the cost of inaction would be greater than the cost of action and the government was committed to taking a responsible approach.

“I’m not worried about opinion polls, I’m concerned about setting the country up for the next decade,” he said.

Mr Swan said Australia was facing “the most complex set of global economic factors it had experienced in 25 years”.

However, he said Australia was better placed to deal with those challenges than most.

He acknowledged that many Australians were doing it tough, having to cope with rising fuel prices and housing costs.

Mr Swan said the government had fought hard to deliver tax cuts in the last budget to alleviate some of the pain.

“We are dealing with the inflation legacy from the previous government and utilising every element of policy at our disposal to address those issues.

“We face a difficult set of global figures which makes the domestic situation more difficult.

“We will concentrate on what we can control, such as having a disciplined budget, maintaining a surplus and investing funds to lift the nation’s productive capacity.”